Joseph Hubbard

SEMIOTICS / WORDS
SEMIOTICS / WORDS PROBES THE "SWISS ARMY KNIFE" CAPABILITY OF LANGUAGE AND MEMORY
TO BOTH CONVEY AND MISMANAGE MEANING AND EMOTION.

(click on images to enlarge)

	ANOTHER WORK FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED paper, text, glass, plexiglass, braille, seeds: The Moving Finger Writes…from The Rubaiyat (Omar Khayyám~ ca:1100 CE) (76.25 cm W x 56 cm H x 5 cm D) 30 inW x 22 in x 2in D 2010 private collection
	WEIGHING LETTERS FOR THE BLIND Braille scales, fiberglass, lead birdshot 30 in W x 22 in x 2in D (76.25 cm W x 56 cm H x 5 cm D)
	WEIGHING THE OTHERNESS OF 7 ARABIAN POEMS Iron scales, shredded text of 7 Arabian Poems pub.1823 13 in W x 10 in H x 8 in D 2010 (33 cm W x 26 cm H x 20 cm D) for American poet Wallace Stevens
	MY LIFE IN BED 2010 brass, leatherbound book 8.5in W x 4in H x 8in D (21.5cm W x 10cm H x 20cm D)
	GIFT FOR THE BAGHDAD MUSEUM 2009-10 Cardboard inside ceramic 10in W x in H x 6in D (25cm W x 18cm H x 15cm D)
	WEIGHING AN ARABIAN POEM 2009-10 brass scales, shredded text (pub.1823), feather 10in W x 10.5in H x 6in D (26cm W x 27 cm H x 15 cm D)
	BREATHTAKING ITINERARIES (Click picture to play) 2010; Continuous scrolling digital display; wood and gold leaf. A selection of 28 genocides, massacres, exterminations, and mass murders from 1845-2010. A blithe condensation of the 50 foot long 2006 work: Shadows Itineraries. AMRITSAR, N'AMERINDIANS, ARMENIA, IRELAND, GUERNICA, UKRAINE, The HOLOCAUST, DRESDEN, HAMBURG, TOKYO, HIROSHIMA, NAGASAKI, The GULAG, TIBET, KASHMIR, VIETNAM, CHEJUDO, NAMIBIA, CAMBODIA, BANGLADESH, BORUNDI, RWANDA, CHECHNIA, CONGO, GUATEMALA, SREBRENICA, East TIMOR, DARFUR.. (repeat)
	LIES MY MOTHER TOLD ME (Click picture to play) 2008; Continuous scrolling digital display; wood, gold leaf. 18cm (7") H x 29cm (11.5") W x 8.5cm (3.5") D. My mother's solipsisms: Lies my mother told me: It isn't your fault... You shouldn't blame yourself... This is good for you... Time heals all wounds... This hurts me more than you... The world is your oyster... You can be anything you dream to be... I will never leave you... I will never lie to you..... (repeat)
Click photo to view entire series SHADOWS ITINERARY	SHADOWS: ITINERARY 2006; Sites of the major place names of genocides, massacres, exterminations, and mass murders from 1906-2006. Maple frames each 8.5 cm x 168 cm; stainless steel wire,brass spring balance scales, plexiglass fronts and backs, miniature wood clothes pegs. REQUIREMENTS: two 9º spotlamps per panel on 8-10ft high track projecting shadow letters onto the wall inside and behind the frames.
	THE WEIGHT OF MY WORDS, YOUR WORDS 2003-5; 33cmH/20cmW/5.5 cmD; two glazed, ceramic soup plates bent/joined. TOP/BOTTOM REVERSABLE; cream finish, two bent "soup plates" joined in figure 8 arrangement; letters submerged in aspic-like clear red cast acrylic resin. Wall mounted; signature on reverse S S	WEIGHT OF MY WORDS, YOUR WORDS
THE WEIGHT OF YOUR WORDS, MY WORDS	THE WEIGHT OF YOUR WORDS, MY WORDS 2004-5; 30cmH/43cmW/12cmD; white fibreglass, cast Forton resin; signed lower right of each half description: 2 large 30cm high egg halves side by side with zippered edges; letters on exterior; wall mounted, signed on right side.
	VENUS WORD TRAPS 2000-3; 37cmH/77cmW/17cmD (for the pair); signed on lower right of each piece; 24K gold and description: pair black glazed ceramic "Venus flytrap"-like forms contain brass letters protected by nickel-cadmium wire "hairs"; Left (larger) piece contains "Your Words". Right (smaller) piece contains "My Words". Comments on interpersonal communication. Wall mounted; reversible S S	VENUS WORD TRAPS)
GENETIC MODIFICATION	GENETIC MODIFICATION 2005; 18cmH X 55cmW x14cmD: cast resin; wood Genetic Code in long line attached to brass and wood rod pierce intersect large fibreglass egg supported at the ends by two cast resin children's hands. Wall mounted, signed on right S S
	OLD SAW 2003; 120cmH/12cmW/6.5cmD: wood letters coated in sintered iron: description: letters announcing IT'S NOT OVER 'TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS"; as a rust-finished "saw" folded in half; forms sentence up to a large wall-mounted antique hook and back down again. Commentary on Mortality. Signature on reverse. Private Collection	OLD SAW
WHAT WOULD JESUS DRIVE?	WHAT WOULD JESUS DRIVE? 2003; 120cmH/12cmW/6.5cmD: wood, copper letters coated in sintered iron: wall mounted; signature on reverse GLIB REFERENCE TO POLITICALLY (IN)CORRECT VEHICLE CHOICE.
	IRAQ FILES 2003-5; 30H x 21W x14D EDITION OF SIX (two in private collections); signed in the clay. Antique two-post hanging file; files are ceramic tablets; sides stamped with cuneiform glyphs interspersed with dollar and pound signs; wall mounted; signature on edge.	IRAQ FILES
IRAQ TOASTER WMD	IRAQ TOASTER WMD 2005; 18H/24W/15D: 24K gold(chrome) plated ceramic "toaster"; sides stamped with ancient cuneiform glyphs intersperced with dollar and British pound signs; "toast" stamped with cuneiform; signed in the clay. Edition of five; four in private collections.
	LITTLE VOICE OF REASON 2004-5; 30cmH/34cmW/14cmD; welded curvilinear brass horn/taxidermied bird/small brass letters. Private collection.	LITTLE VOICE OF REASON
THE WEIGHT OF WORDS	THE WEIGHT OF WORDS 2000-2; 130cmH/54cmW/19cm D; signed lower right; ceramic; steel description: large, silver/24K gold plated, organic, parachute-like ceramic form appears (illusion) to be suspended by thin steel cables from huge chrome-plated steel hook above. No actual letters or words in this metaphorical work referencing the significance of words. Less imaginative viewers inspect the inside of the form in vain search for literal words. Collection Museum London, Canada. Wall mounted.
	EDUCATIONAL COERCION KIT Two Versions of ABU GHRAIB KIT 64cmH x 64cmW x 5cmD: 2006, vacuum formed vinyl, collectible "Teddies", sewn leather letters, battery, genital clips, black torture hoods & cloaks, switch.	ABU GHRAIB EDUCATIONAL COERCION KIT
GUANTANAMO EDUCATIONAL COERCION KIT	GUANTANAMO EDUCATIONAL COERCION KIT Mixed media, fabric, vacuum formed vinyl 64 cm (25") square, x 10 cm (4") D 2008
	DOLLAR STORE OBLIGATIONS Long, narrow maple frame; clear plexiglass front and back; punched metal Dollar Store words hang from miniature clothespegson stainless steel cable held in tension by antique brass spring scales 9cm (3.5") H x 154cm (60.75") W x 3cm (1.25") D. 2007	DOLLAR STORE OBLIGATIONS

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